I woke up early this morning to start packing my suitcase. I didn’t get my clean clothes back until late yesterday so I really couldn’t start earlier.
After mostly finishing packing I went up to watch the arrival into Kobe again.
Kobe is one of the most beautiful ports. Kobe has beautiful hills nearby the coast line.
Today’s port guide…
Kobe is also very convenient. I did some research and I would be able to take the Port Liner (right from the Port) to the train station and then take a Special Rapid train to Kyoto. And this entire trip would only take ¥1320.
I had a very light breakfast, finished packing and waited in Club Fusion which was the elite disembarkation lounge.
I was given permission to go ashore at roughly 7:15 AM. It was a bit more time consuming in the port this time as I had to clear customs and immigration. Luckily as I had Elite status and was carrying off my luggage I was able to get off very early.
I took some pictures from the Portliner station and inside the Portliner.
I managed to get to the Sannomiya train station in time for the 8:05 AM Special Rapid train. In fact I arrived a bit earlier to the platform and needed to let some local trains arrive and depart first. I know it seems counter intuitive to let earlier trains pass, but the Special Rapid will pass them quickly.
I took a few pictures during the train ride, mostly because I wanted to know where the train was getting split and ensure I was not going to the wrong place.
I took a few pictures of the scenery the train passed along the way to Kyoto.
One of the interesting buildings was shaped like a piece of chocolate. I wish I got a better picture of it.
I arrived to the Kyoto station shortly after 9 AM.
I was a bit disorientated finding the exit, but I eventually found the way to the right exit.
Once I found the exit I knew exactly where to go to find the hotel. I had stayed at the same property in 2018 and it was super close to the train station. In fact I found out that the word Ekimae actually meant “in front of the station”.
Luckily they allowed me to store my luggage at the hotel even as absurdly early it was. I took out my camera and rain jacket and started off on my adventure.
While walking to the hotel I noticed a sign that said the aquarium was only a 15 minute walk and I knew my first stop was next to it. I had decided to go to the Kyoto Train Museum as last time I was in town the Typhoon closed the museum and everything else.
I walked through a park as I would still arrive at opening time. I noticed a few interesting sculptures along the way. They were really unobtrusive and easy to not notice if you weren’t paying attention.
There was an old streetcar that was turned into a visitor information center next to a Starbucks.
When I arrived a the museum there was a huge queue. Luckily it didn’t take long to buy a ticket 1500 Yen and enter the museum.
Immediately upon entering the museum you are greeted by a Series 0 Shinkansen (bullet train) from circa 1964.
I also got a souvenir welcome photo here. No clue what it says in English. Google translate says it was modeled after aircraft.
I took tons of photos, but honestly the museum website has a good listing of the different trains:
Inside the Shinkansen:
A few photos of the more interesting trains.
I’m not quite sure how this is supposed to work. Seems like four people would fit in seats, but two in the bed?
Aomari? I’ve been there.
A few more photos of trains inside the museum.
I thought this was funny. It’s customary to take off your shoes. I can’t imagine the people when they got to their destination without shoes.
You can actually walk under this train.
Just a few more trains… If you look close you can see the windows on the top floor and the wall is painted like a train.
There were a bunch of other really interesting exhibits, motors, wheels, train control boards and track switchers.
Small trucks means small intermodal containers…
A few of the trucks showing how the train suspension has improved over the years from basic leaf springs to air ride.
There was also a mock ticket office and ticket machines. One of which you could actually use and one turnstile with a cutaway so you can watch the ticket move through the machine.
Time to go outside. There was observation deck where you could see the trains (including the Shinkansen) going into the Kyoto station.
There was also a window to the maintenance building where they were restoring steam engines. I did the best I could, but the windows were dirty.
Now it was time to explore the steam trains in the roundhouse. I’m surprised the roundhouse is this close to the city, and very close to the train station. I was also surprised how clean the fireboxes were.
Some of the parts of the train on display
There was one steam train in operation where you could ride in on for a very short distance.
Inside another building just before the gift shop (I mean exit) there were a few more displays, one of which was where (before COVID) you could shovel coal.
I walked back to the hotel to check in and along the way watched the steam train pass by.
I picked up my luggage and checked into the hotel. The room was small as usual, and without a great view, but I’m only staying two nights and don’t need anything fancier than this. The hotel was 27,449 Yen which was just under $200. However as you can see they wanted a pretty penny for breakfast.
Now that I was checked in I decided to wander around the city for a bit. Walking by the train station I took a picture of the Kyoto Tower and a flyer about a light show.
I first briefly walked into the Higashi Honganji Temple. I’ve been here before in 2018, but it was nearby and on the way.
I continued walked up towards Gion along the Kamo river and found a couple of nice birds.
Once I arrived in the Gion district and started walking down Hanamikoji Street I was confronted with a sign stating that photography was not permitted and there was a large fine. Needless to say you won’t see any pictures from the street here. Feel free to use street view on Google Maps.
At the end of the street was the Kenninji Temple.
There was a rock with a hole in it that people crawled through after writing down a wish on a piece of paper.
From here I walked over to the Yasaka Shrine.
Next on my agenda was to get some Ramen. I found a place on Google Maps that had a good rating. There was a long queue, but I decided I should wait it out to get good Ramen.
As you can see I had the Ramen and the Gyoza. The Ramen broth was so salty it was inedible, and I really like salt. The Gyoza was okay. Altogether it was a major disappointment, even if I didn’t have to wait an hour to get inside. If you see my rating on Google Maps I do not recommend eating here.
I tried to get back in time for the light show, but got there just as the final show was ending. I did take a picture of the Kyoto Tower.
Since I was at the train station I went to find the stairs that have LEDs on them that I accidentally discovered in 2018. I took a few pictures then walked back to the hotel to call it a night. There is an official YouTube video below without any tourists in the way. The also have seasonal shows according to the website below.
Today’s timeline:
